Abstract: A wireless power system has a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may be a wireless charging mat with one or more coils or may be a wireless charging puck with one or more coils. In some embodiments, the wireless charging puck may have six coils or other number of coils arranged in a ring. The wireless power receiving device may have an elongated magnetic core such as a C-shaped core with pillars at opposing ends. First and second coils may be formed on the pillars and a third coil may be formed between the first and second coils. The coils of the wireless power receiving device such as the first and second coils on the magnetic core may be configured to receive magnetic flux emitted by a pair of the six coils in the wireless charging puck.

Abstract: An inductive power receiving device configured to: supply power received with a power receiving coil to a load in a first mode; determine whether a converter voltage exceeds a threshold voltage; in response to the determining the converter voltage exceeds the threshold voltage after sending a charging mode request, switch to supplying power received with the power receiving coil to the load in a second mode; and in response to determining the converter voltage coil exceeds the threshold voltage before sending the charging mode request is sent, prevent at least a portion of the power received with the power receiving coil from reaching the load. An inductive power transmitting device configured to provide an alternating current voltage to a power transmitting coil and gradually increase the voltage after receiving a charging mode request and stop gradually increasing the voltage once an inductive power receiving device changes modes.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil (13) in series with a capacitor (14), a voltage multiplier (15) for providing a DC output, and a power control switch (18) controlled by a controller (19) for regulating the power supplied to a load. An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil in series with a capacitor, a charge pump for providing a DC output, and a power control switch controlled by a controller for regulating the power supplied to a load. A method of power flow control in an inductive power transfer circuit having a power control switch is also provided. The method includes detecting two operational transitions in the circuit and determining a reference timing bases on which operational transition is detected earliest within a detection window. The reference timing is used to developing a signal for controlling the power control switch.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer assembly comprising a magnetic core having a base portion, a first limb, and a second limb, wherein the first limb and the second limb extend, in a direction, from a surface of the base portion a first power transfer coil and a second power transfer coil, wherein the first power transfer coil is wound about the first limb, and wherein the second power transfer coil is wound about the second limb; and inverter circuitry connected to the first power transfer coil and the second power transfer coil, wherein the inverter circuitry, during operation, causes the first power transfer coil and the second power transfer coil to generate flux having opposing polarity.

Abstract: An inductive power receiving device configured to: supply power received with a power receiving coil to a load in a first mode; determine whether a converter voltage exceeds a threshold voltage; in response to the determining the converter voltage exceeds the threshold voltage after sending a charging mode request, switch to supplying power received with the power receiving coil to the load in a second mode; and in response to determining the converter voltage coil exceeds the threshold voltage before sending the charging mode request is sent, prevent at least a portion of the power received with the power receiving coil from reaching the load. An inductive power transmitting device configured to provide an alternating current voltage to a power transmitting coil and gradually increase the voltage after receiving a charging mode request and stop gradually increasing the voltage once an inductive power receiving device changes modes.

Abstract: A receiver coil assembly for a wirelessly rechargeable battery including first and second transverse coils and a third coil encompassing the first and second coils. The receiver coil may be employed in a power receiver of a wirelessly rechargeable battery. Also disclosed is a wirelessly rechargeable battery having a power receiver demountable from an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer assembly comprising a magnetic core having a base portion, a first limb, and a second limb, wherein the first limb and the second limb extend, in a direction, from a surface of the base portion a first power transfer coil and a second power transfer coil, wherein the first power transfer coil is wound about the first limb, and wherein the second power transfer coil is wound about the second limb; and inverter circuitry connected to the first power transfer coil and the second power transfer coil, wherein the inverter circuitry, during operation, causes the first power transfer coil and the second power transfer coil to generate flux having opposing polarity.

Abstract: A receiver coil assembly for a wirelessly rechargeable battery including first and second transverse coils and a third coil encompassing the first and second coils. The receiver coil may be employed in a power receiver of a wirelessly rechargeable battery. Also disclosed is a wirelessly rechargeable battery having a power receiver demountable from an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A powered joint having a first joint component and second joint component in which the first joint component has multiple degrees of rotational freedom with respect to the second joint component, the powered joint including one or more power transmission coils associated with the first component; a plurality of power receiving coils associated with the second component; a sensor which determines the orientation of the second component with respect to the first component; and a control circuit for selectively connecting one of the plurality of power receiving coils to a power receiving circuit based on information received from the sensor.

Abstract: A receiver coil assembly for a wirelessly rechargeable battery including first and second transverse coils and a third coil encompassing the first and second coils. The receiver coil may be employed in a power receiver of a wirelessly rechargeable battery. Also disclosed is a wirelessly rechargeable battery having a power receiver demountable from an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device using an output circuit that includes a wireless power transmitting coil. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the output circuit to help determine whether the wireless power receiving device is present and ready to accept transmission of wireless power. Oscillator circuitry for supplying signals to the output circuitry while making measurements with the measurement circuitry is coupled to the output circuit using an impedance injection network. The impedance injection network includes an inductor and a resistor coupled in series. Control circuitry opens a transistor in the output circuit when making measurements with the measurement circuitry and closes the transistor when transmitting the wireless power signals.

Abstract: An inductive power transmitter 2 comprising: a controllable DC voltage source 5; a DC-AC converter 6 that receives a DC power supply from the controllable DC voltage source 5 and generates an AC output waveform to drive a transmitter coil 7 of an inductive power transfer system 1; a current sensor 9 for measuring the current supplied by the controllable DC voltage source 5 to the DC-AC converter 6; and a controller 8 that adjusts the output voltage of the DC voltage source 5 based on the current measured by the current sensor 9.

Abstract: A method for controlling a converter including a resonant circuit, where the converter is controlled such that control switches are switched into a first state at the occurrence of an event that is related to a dependent variable of the converter and are switched into a second state at the occurrence of an event that is not related to a dependent variable of the converter, and the method may be employed in a converter or an inductive power transfer transmitter.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer device including: a resonant circuit, having a power transfer coil and a power transfer capacitor; a coupling coil, magnetically-coupled to the power transfer coil; a variable impedance; and a controller configured to determine the impedance value of the variable impedance based on predetermined criteria including: substantially regulating power provided to a load; tuning the resonant circuit resonant frequency substantially to a predetermined frequency; adjusting a frequency of a magnetic field associated with the power transfer coil; and/or adjusting an impedance reflected by the power transfer coil to a corresponding coupled power transfer coil.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer (IPT) system may include an inductive power transmitter having at least one power transmitting coil that generates an IPT field and an IPT director unit over the inductive power transmitter. The IPT director unit may include a low reluctance element such as a magnetic core configured to direct the IPT field from the inductive power transmitter to an inductive power receiver held in place over the IPT director unit (e.g., by a housing of the IPT director unit). While the IPT director unit directs the IPT field from the inductive power transmitter to the inductive power receiver, a mean direction and density of the IPT field entering the low reluctance element from the inductive power transmitter may be different from the mean direction and density of the IPT field exiting the low reluctance element towards the inductive power receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contactless connector (100), a system including the contactless connector (100) and a corresponding mating connector (200), and a manufacturing method for the contactless connector. In order to enable the contactless connector (100) to transmit/receive power to/from the corresponding mating connector (200), the invention suggest providing at the contactless connector an inner ferrite element (102) and an inductive coupling element (110) arranged to at least partially surround the inner ferrite element. An outer ferrite element (107) of the contactless connector is arranged to at least partially surround the inductive coupling element (110), wherein a front end (108) of the outer ferrite element (107) facing the mating (101) end of the contactless connector is recessed in an axial direction of the contactless connector with respect to a front end (103) of the inner ferrite element (102) facing the mating end.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system comprising: a wireless power transfer transmitter having at least one power transmitting coil aligned in a first plane; a wireless power transfer receiver having at least one power receiving coil aligned in a second plane, the first and second planes being non-parallel to one another; and a wireless power transfer adaptor for adapting the power transferred in the first plane to power transferred in the second plane.

Abstract: A magnetically permeable core for use in wireless power transfer systems. The core includes a base with first and second portions that extend away from the base. The first portion extends further from the base than the second portion in order to maintain an effective flux linkage throughout a range of relative displacement of a receiving core from a transmitting core. Transmitters and/or receivers for use in wireless power transfer systems may include the magnetically permeable core and windings.

Abstract: A receiver coil assembly for a wirelessly rechargeable battery including first and second transverse coils and a third coil encompassing the first and second coils. The receiver coil may be employed in a power receiver of a wirelessly rechargeable battery. Also disclosed is a wirelessly rechargeable battery having a power receiver demountable from an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An inductive power receiver 3 including at least two switches S1, S2 connected across a resonant circuit 802, the resonant circuit including an inductance and a capacitance, wherein a first switch S1 of the at least two switches is configured to switch into a first state based on a first event dependent on a receiver variable; and the first switch is configured to switch to a second state based on a second event independent of a receiver variable.